Penguins forward Bryan Rust sidelined on week-to-week basis due to injury
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Pittsburgh Penguins forward Bryan Rust will be sidelined on a “week-to-week” basis because of an undisclosed injury.
Coach Mike Sullivan announced Rust’s status after a practice session in Cranberry on Monday.
Rust, typically deployed on the right wing of the team’s top line, was injured during a 3-1 road loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday and missed Friday’s 3-1 road loss to the Florida Panthers.
A right-handed shot, Rust has been one of the team’s most consistent offensive threats this season. In 22 games, Rust has scored 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) while averaging 18:53 of ice time per contest.
His absence, coupled with an undisclosed injury that has sidelined fellow top-six forward Rickard Rakell for the past nine games, has cratered the team’s depth on the right wing. At the moment, Drew O’Connor, typically a bottom-six forward, and Valtteri Puustinen, recently recalled from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League (AHL), are stationed as the first- and second-line right wingers.
Rakell is designated to long-term injured reserve and is not eligible to rejoin the NHL roster until Saturday.
“The expectations are we have what it takes to win games,” Sullivan said. “Guys are going to get opportunities to play more significant roles, and it’s up to them to maximize those opportunities. They should get excited about it. That’s where we’re at. Rather than focus on the guys that are out of the lineup, we’re trying to focus on the guys right now that are in the lineup and put these guys in positions where they can play to their strengths. Players are going to get opportunities to play a more significant role, players like (O’Connor). He is a very capable guy, as (are) some of the other guys that we’re asking to play different types of roles. It’s a huge opportunity for them.”
Notes:
• Penguins forward Lars Eller was withheld from practice as a precaution Monday because of an undisclosed illness. Sullivan indicated Eller is expected to be available for Tuesday’s home game against the Arizona Coyotes.
• Forward Jesse Puljujarvi, who joined the team Sunday on a tryout basis, was withheld from practice as he continues to work his way back into game shape following offseason surgery on both hips.
A first-round pick (No. 4 overall) of the Edmonton Oilers in 2016, Puljujarvi has remained unsigned after the Carolina Hurricanes opted to not extend a qualifying offer to him as a pending restricted free agent this past offseason.
• Noel Acciari, designated to injured reserve, skated before the team’s practice session and remains sidelined indefinitely.
• Matt Nieto, also on injured reserve, worked out off the ice. He remains sidelined indefinitely.
• Per general manager Kyle Dubas, defenseman Dmitri Samorukov was waived Monday with the hopes of assigning him to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton should he go unclaimed by Tuesday afternoon.
After opening the season with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton signed to an AHL contract, Samorukov signed an NHL contract on Nov. 21 and has been part of the NHL roster since, albeit as a healthy scratch for nine games. With Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this season, Samorukov has appeared in 15 games and has five points (one goal, five assists).
• The pending transaction with Samourukov comes as injured incumbent defensemen P.O Joseph and Chad Ruhwedel appear to be close to rejoining the active roster. Each is designated to injured reserve.
Joseph (15 games) and Ruhwedel (nine games) have each been sidelined over the past handful of weeks.